Residents’ parties and independents form alliance at Essex County Council to become official opposition

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After the recent successful Essex County Council (ECC) elections, Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) has formed an alliance with similar residents and independent councillors to become the official opposition group at ECC.

Paul Gadd (R4U) Paul Gadd (R4U)

R4U’s Cllr Paul Gadd, Essex County Councillor for the Saffron Walden division, said “The residents’ movement is growing across Essex. As a result the largest number of residents’ and independent councillors were elected in the recent county council elections. At ECC we have joined with them to form what is called a ‘non-aligned’ group, which because of its size, is now the official opposition at ECC.”

Cllr Chris Pond (LRA) Chris Pond (Loughton Residents)

Cllr Gadd continued “The new grouping is led by long-serving Loughton Residents Association Councillor Chris Pond, who we know well and have an excellent working relationship with. In addition to both myself and Martin Foley as R4U councillors, the group includes councillors from Basildon, Canvey Island, Rochford, Southminster and Tendring. This important alliance gives our grouping a stronger say in decision making, more seats on committees, and increased power to work within ECC to try to secure a better service for our residents.”

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About Residents for Uttlesford

Residents for Uttlesford (R4U) is the local independent party of north-west Essex towns and villages. The party believes in positive politics and that residents should decide on local issues, not Westminster parties.

R4U leads Uttlesford District Council (UDC). In its first election in 2015 it became the second party at UDC. In May 2019 R4U gained majority control of UDC, winning two-thirds of the seats. The ground-breaking result delivered the biggest loss by any Conservative controlled council in the UK. In 2023 the party retained control of the now award-winning local authority.

In 2021, R4U won half the Essex County Council seats in Uttlesford district.

Since 2015 R4U has also led Saffron Walden Town Council, where under its stewardship the council has rebuilt finances, invested in community assets, and won multiple awards, including the best run council in Essex. It is a minority party on Great Dunmow Town Council.

Residents for Uttlesford can be found on the web at www.residents4u.org.

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